This is my first attempt (and probably only) attempt at an AAR. I don't have any pretentions regarding the quality of my writing, as english is not my first language. This is my first game as France, and let me tell you I am very curious how people managed to win as France.
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1936, France. The world is not yet in turmoil, but nothing seems safe. Germany is rising from it's ashes and it seems intent on showing the world how powerful it can be again. France has learned it's lesson and has designed a massive defensive system on the border of Germany. Fearing this is not enough, France embarks on a massive research program focused on infantry quality and artillery. Alot of electronic research is done, but not much else. France spends most of the 1936,1937 and 1938 researching lik crazies, and carefully selecting research programs so that no IC is lost. Anything adding power to infantry is researched, I dropped most AT, AA, A researches as the France ministers fear they will not have the time and ICs to build brigades. Tanks are research on the late, getting the improved light tank at the end of 1938. France does not go any further as far as tanks go as they believe there is not much use for counterattacks if youre counter attacking from Brest.
Meanwhile, Spain suffers from a civil war. My expedition forces arrive too late (damn!) since they were coming from the north (Spain was taken in days! Even my tanks couldnt get there fast enough). Knowing that it can't fight on three fronts (even two fronts seems doubtful) France spends all the DI it can get it's hands on to keep Spain on the democratic side of the triangle. This proves to be an important decision as Nationalist Spain never joins the Axis! Alot fo DI is spent over the years as Italy tried to bring them closer to their political point of view.
Come 1938, Germany is only slightly more advanced in land technology, but time is running short. A hard decision is made to slow down research and arm France properly. regular infantry is built as fast as possible and deployed along the borders of Belgium and Germany. Some are sent south to Italy, but because of the inferior Italian army and the fact that I'm defending in mountains, their number is quite limited. The built up continues until 1939 when I am forced to face the fact that I can only staff my front line but I have no reserve. All the provinces on Belgium and Germany's border are staffed with 12 infantry divisions. There are 3 x 9 infantry division stacks who's sole purpose to rush to where the action is. At the last minute, 12 improved light tanks are constructed and deployed as another reinforcements too.
1940 - The steamroller
In 1940, Germany demands Danzig and gets it. In fact, it demands everything it can and gets away with it. Even giving Danzig does not save Poland though, as Germany declares war to Poland shortly after the allies had guaranteed them independence. And it goes (mostly) downhill from here.
During the years 1936-1940, France makes the decision to share every and technology it can with Poland, hoping this will slow down Germany. It does in fact work, as Germany takes 2-3 months to take over Poland, but sadly this effort does not delay them enough for France to build proper defenses. Middle of 1940, Germany brings his massive armies to the west. Clearly France's only chance is to keep Italy occupied (Yugoslavia is influenced the whole game but never bothers to join the allies...
) while delaying Germany until Russia attacks (can France delay Germany 2 full years?)
As soon as Germany declares war on the netherlands, I move my troops to Belgium, wanting to take advantage of the river between Arnhem and Eindhoven to defend myself. This plan is short lived as I get pushed back to France within 2-3 weeks. Back in France, I defend to the last man (well, not really as you will see) Meanwhile, Italy is kicked out of Africa by the British and is completely restrained to the European continent. This will be my only reason to celebrate for a while.
1940 - Paris is taken
After Belgium is taken, France fights looks desperate but they hold on. The reserves run accross the border to join fights all over, the Maginot holds strongly but the north is weak. Germany takes 1 province, 2 provinces....and then I realize France will never hold. But I am not the kind to give up, so I ordr a massive Dunkirk our of Europe. Destination? Africa. I take all my ships and bring them to the Mediterrenean. I have a grand total of 5 transports and around 55 divisions to evacutate. That means 11 round trips. Not wanting to waste time, I pull all my troops to the south, tanks first (dont want to loose those precious few) and keep only minimal defense to slow down Germany.
Everything is pulled to Toulon (east of Marseille) where I was still defending against the inept attackso fo Italy. I have a fort there, maybe I can survive a couple of months. As soon as my transports get there, they take 5 tank divisions and head out for Tunis. And they come back, and go to Tunis..and so forth. Meanwhile Paris is taken, and the inevitable Vichy offer pops up.
Not knowing what Vichy will do (will I be pupetted and become Axis? or will I keep Vichy but by independent so that I will be able to bid my time and come back to help the allies once they land). I choose the cunterintuitive response. I stand up to the Germans and say "You can take my cheese, but you'll never take my freedom" while stuffin my mouth with a big piece of blue cheese.
This frantic evacuation shows my very obvious ingratitude to the British: French troops are evacuated before the Brits . In the end it does not matter, as I evacuated the last remaining Brits out of Europe 3 HOURS before Germany gets there with 30 divisions.
Now that this is done, I have time again to think, althought my thouhts are not very good one. The French leadershp is considering surrendering and trying another stint at running some other countriy (only in a computer game.... but I say "no, we will fight until the end (or 1948, whichever comes first!)" and we proceed to examine the situation.
We have in total 54 infantry divisions, some of which have AT brigades attached, 18 tank divisions and some cavalry. I have to keep my population happy (about 2 IC at this point) and my troops supplies (about...60 ICs)..all this with about 12 ICs available, most of which will fall as soon as Japan attacks because they are in Saigon.
I decide to give back countrol of my Brits to the UK, and also give them a major gift: a big 55 division stack of tanks-fantry-cavalary, and tell them "to take good care of them and feed them well" with tears in my eyes. I keep around 18 divisions just so I wont feel like a total looser and protect my beaches. Months pass with some attempted landing, but I soon give up when I realize the man can't retreat and therefore die....On attempt gets my hopes up: In Marseille, I land as fast as I can all my mountaineers (5), and another stack of tanks and quickly take over Marseille which was protected by one division of Infantry. This is short lived however, as Germany brings 60 divisions next to Marseille. Their hesitation allow my to save all my troops, and soon we're back on Africa.
1942 Russia and US join the War
Russia finally joins the war as I am attemping other landings...Finally, maybe I will be allowed to and properly as Germany will be worried about a much bigger foe.
Yeah right. Russia is gobbled up in a year. They have 112 divisions at the war starts for Germany's 260, and they are of lesser quality. Russia is of absolutely no help to me, and when I look back 2-3 months later, Germany is at the door of Moscou and Stalingrad. 3 months later, Stalingrad is taken and Moscou falls shortly after. Not only that, but when Moscou falls, Germany has been encircling the city for months and they are halfway accross the country.
Fortunately, the US is now part of the allies, and their might is easy to see. They bring ships to Italy and try to land on Messina, a feat which I have attemped once or twice. They quickly take over Messina (how did they do that with 2 divisions???), and knowing how stupid the AI can be I quickly go and reinforce it with my landing party (my 5 mountaineer and 5 tanks). Messina is secured and will stay this way until 1948.
Now, Italy is not as stupid as I first thought, and they bring 40 divisions next to Messina to keep us bottled up. They can't attack (we're defending in mountains with around 20 divisions), and I can't attacked since I only have 10 divisions at half strength. (the reinforce button has been grayed out on all my units since 1941....it will reappear around 1943 and go back to being grayed out in 1944..annoying). The US dont attack, because....I don't know why. I wish I could give them a swift kick in the a**, but I can't. I will feel this way at least a hundred time in the years to come.
1944
finally, the US attacks, with support from my battleships and they finally get to the Italian mainland. I take care of the defense (as the US prefers running around then securing objectives) and they take care of harrassement (they get within 2 provincesof Berlin at one point, but their string of supply is poorly defended and they dissapear. The UK tries landing troops on Brest, Cherbroug, and other northern provinces but instead of landing one big stack of 20-30, they land 10 small stacks of 2 units everytime. Grrrr....The US does the same thing, but they land 4-5 tank divisions. Still, this is not enough.
We (the US and I) continue our offensive on Italy and finally reach Bologna. This is where we'll make out stand....or maybe further out. I get to Veniza and protect 4 provinces wide the mouth of Italy...if I can get a little further north, I can give tanks access to plains for their attack. I launch a series of small offensive (small because even with my 60 division stack recalled from the Brits, I still have little firepower) to no avail. I will never be able to secure the mountain chain to the north of Italy. After a series of attacks from germany, I fall back on Bologna with 40 divisons and I make a stand. The germans will never attack and I will never move again.
The game continues with the whole world siding with the axis, but the rest is pretty boring stuff.
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Hope you enjoyed this tale of failure. ...
Bluefox
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1936, France. The world is not yet in turmoil, but nothing seems safe. Germany is rising from it's ashes and it seems intent on showing the world how powerful it can be again. France has learned it's lesson and has designed a massive defensive system on the border of Germany. Fearing this is not enough, France embarks on a massive research program focused on infantry quality and artillery. Alot of electronic research is done, but not much else. France spends most of the 1936,1937 and 1938 researching lik crazies, and carefully selecting research programs so that no IC is lost. Anything adding power to infantry is researched, I dropped most AT, AA, A researches as the France ministers fear they will not have the time and ICs to build brigades. Tanks are research on the late, getting the improved light tank at the end of 1938. France does not go any further as far as tanks go as they believe there is not much use for counterattacks if youre counter attacking from Brest.
Meanwhile, Spain suffers from a civil war. My expedition forces arrive too late (damn!) since they were coming from the north (Spain was taken in days! Even my tanks couldnt get there fast enough). Knowing that it can't fight on three fronts (even two fronts seems doubtful) France spends all the DI it can get it's hands on to keep Spain on the democratic side of the triangle. This proves to be an important decision as Nationalist Spain never joins the Axis! Alot fo DI is spent over the years as Italy tried to bring them closer to their political point of view.
Come 1938, Germany is only slightly more advanced in land technology, but time is running short. A hard decision is made to slow down research and arm France properly. regular infantry is built as fast as possible and deployed along the borders of Belgium and Germany. Some are sent south to Italy, but because of the inferior Italian army and the fact that I'm defending in mountains, their number is quite limited. The built up continues until 1939 when I am forced to face the fact that I can only staff my front line but I have no reserve. All the provinces on Belgium and Germany's border are staffed with 12 infantry divisions. There are 3 x 9 infantry division stacks who's sole purpose to rush to where the action is. At the last minute, 12 improved light tanks are constructed and deployed as another reinforcements too.
1940 - The steamroller
In 1940, Germany demands Danzig and gets it. In fact, it demands everything it can and gets away with it. Even giving Danzig does not save Poland though, as Germany declares war to Poland shortly after the allies had guaranteed them independence. And it goes (mostly) downhill from here.
During the years 1936-1940, France makes the decision to share every and technology it can with Poland, hoping this will slow down Germany. It does in fact work, as Germany takes 2-3 months to take over Poland, but sadly this effort does not delay them enough for France to build proper defenses. Middle of 1940, Germany brings his massive armies to the west. Clearly France's only chance is to keep Italy occupied (Yugoslavia is influenced the whole game but never bothers to join the allies...
) while delaying Germany until Russia attacks (can France delay Germany 2 full years?)As soon as Germany declares war on the netherlands, I move my troops to Belgium, wanting to take advantage of the river between Arnhem and Eindhoven to defend myself. This plan is short lived as I get pushed back to France within 2-3 weeks. Back in France, I defend to the last man (well, not really as you will see) Meanwhile, Italy is kicked out of Africa by the British and is completely restrained to the European continent. This will be my only reason to celebrate for a while.
1940 - Paris is taken
After Belgium is taken, France fights looks desperate but they hold on. The reserves run accross the border to join fights all over, the Maginot holds strongly but the north is weak. Germany takes 1 province, 2 provinces....and then I realize France will never hold. But I am not the kind to give up, so I ordr a massive Dunkirk our of Europe. Destination? Africa. I take all my ships and bring them to the Mediterrenean. I have a grand total of 5 transports and around 55 divisions to evacutate. That means 11 round trips. Not wanting to waste time, I pull all my troops to the south, tanks first (dont want to loose those precious few) and keep only minimal defense to slow down Germany.
Everything is pulled to Toulon (east of Marseille) where I was still defending against the inept attackso fo Italy. I have a fort there, maybe I can survive a couple of months. As soon as my transports get there, they take 5 tank divisions and head out for Tunis. And they come back, and go to Tunis..and so forth. Meanwhile Paris is taken, and the inevitable Vichy offer pops up.
Not knowing what Vichy will do (will I be pupetted and become Axis? or will I keep Vichy but by independent so that I will be able to bid my time and come back to help the allies once they land). I choose the cunterintuitive response. I stand up to the Germans and say "You can take my cheese, but you'll never take my freedom" while stuffin my mouth with a big piece of blue cheese.
This frantic evacuation shows my very obvious ingratitude to the British: French troops are evacuated before the Brits
. In the end it does not matter, as I evacuated the last remaining Brits out of Europe 3 HOURS before Germany gets there with 30 divisions.Now that this is done, I have time again to think, althought my thouhts are not very good one. The French leadershp is considering surrendering and trying another stint at running some other countriy (only in a computer game....
but I say "no, we will fight until the end (or 1948, whichever comes first!)" and we proceed to examine the situation.We have in total 54 infantry divisions, some of which have AT brigades attached, 18 tank divisions and some cavalry. I have to keep my population happy (about 2 IC at this point) and my troops supplies (about...60 ICs)..all this with about 12 ICs available, most of which will fall as soon as Japan attacks because they are in Saigon.
I decide to give back countrol of my Brits to the UK, and also give them a major gift: a big 55 division stack of tanks-fantry-cavalary, and tell them "to take good care of them and feed them well" with tears in my eyes. I keep around 18 divisions just so I wont feel like a total looser and protect my beaches. Months pass with some attempted landing, but I soon give up when I realize the man can't retreat and therefore die....On attempt gets my hopes up: In Marseille, I land as fast as I can all my mountaineers (5), and another stack of tanks and quickly take over Marseille which was protected by one division of Infantry. This is short lived however, as Germany brings 60 divisions next to Marseille. Their hesitation allow my to save all my troops, and soon we're back on Africa.
1942 Russia and US join the War
Russia finally joins the war as I am attemping other landings...Finally, maybe I will be allowed to and properly as Germany will be worried about a much bigger foe.
Yeah right. Russia is gobbled up in a year. They have 112 divisions at the war starts for Germany's 260, and they are of lesser quality. Russia is of absolutely no help to me, and when I look back 2-3 months later, Germany is at the door of Moscou and Stalingrad. 3 months later, Stalingrad is taken and Moscou falls shortly after. Not only that, but when Moscou falls, Germany has been encircling the city for months and they are halfway accross the country.
Fortunately, the US is now part of the allies, and their might is easy to see. They bring ships to Italy and try to land on Messina, a feat which I have attemped once or twice. They quickly take over Messina (how did they do that with 2 divisions???), and knowing how stupid the AI can be I quickly go and reinforce it with my landing party (my 5 mountaineer and 5 tanks). Messina is secured and will stay this way until 1948.
Now, Italy is not as stupid as I first thought, and they bring 40 divisions next to Messina to keep us bottled up. They can't attack (we're defending in mountains with around 20 divisions), and I can't attacked since I only have 10 divisions at half strength. (the reinforce button has been grayed out on all my units since 1941....it will reappear around 1943 and go back to being grayed out in 1944..annoying). The US dont attack, because....I don't know why. I wish I could give them a swift kick in the a**, but I can't. I will feel this way at least a hundred time in the years to come.
1944
finally, the US attacks, with support from my battleships and they finally get to the Italian mainland. I take care of the defense (as the US prefers running around then securing objectives) and they take care of harrassement (they get within 2 provincesof Berlin at one point, but their string of supply is poorly defended and they dissapear. The UK tries landing troops on Brest, Cherbroug, and other northern provinces but instead of landing one big stack of 20-30, they land 10 small stacks of 2 units everytime. Grrrr....The US does the same thing, but they land 4-5 tank divisions. Still, this is not enough.
We (the US and I) continue our offensive on Italy and finally reach Bologna. This is where we'll make out stand....or maybe further out. I get to Veniza and protect 4 provinces wide the mouth of Italy...if I can get a little further north, I can give tanks access to plains for their attack. I launch a series of small offensive (small because even with my 60 division stack recalled from the Brits, I still have little firepower) to no avail. I will never be able to secure the mountain chain to the north of Italy. After a series of attacks from germany, I fall back on Bologna with 40 divisons and I make a stand. The germans will never attack and I will never move again.
The game continues with the whole world siding with the axis, but the rest is pretty boring stuff.
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Hope you enjoyed this tale of failure. ...
Bluefox
